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Post subject: Re: Thinking about building my own...
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 11:01 am
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I have to address a couple of comments there...


Mr. Sims - If you somehow honestly believe the nonsense you've posted, I put a challenge to you sir. I dare you to listen to a good quality partscaster while blind folded and distinguish it from a "genuine" Strat based on sound alone. Better still, let's pick out a flat 50 songs by unknown artists...i.e. artists not associated with, endorsed by or affiliated with any specific brand of instrument...and see if you can even pick out what brand/model of guitar they used. I have a shiny new penny that says you'll be wrong better than 50% of the time. In fact, since you seem to put soooooo much emphasis on "a name", I can even provide you with a link to some music I've recorded and I'll let you pick out which songs where recorded on which guitars! Since you seem to believe that a name makes THAT much of a difference, it should be an easy task for you, yes?

Let's examine some of your comments...

Quote:
The only way the finished item will match the sum of the parts is if you use Fender parts ... In which case you might just as well buy a finished guitar as the total cost of the parts individually is more (just) than a finished guitar.


I have to completely disagree with this. While some may consider your sense of "brand loyalty" as somehow being admirable, it's also rather mis-guided. Yea, I like Fenders too...otherwise I wouldn't be on this forum....however, to me how a guitar sounds, feels and plays is FAR more important than the sticker on the headstock. Your argument(s) seem to suggest that the sticker itself is the most significant thing about the guitar.....? Wow....

The fact of the matter is that today, a great many 3'rd party vendors do in fact make Strat parts that are comporable, if not superior to Fender. Callaham trems and trem blocks as just one example. I'm not sure what Callaham does differently in their process, but those "cold rolled steel" trem blocks ARE superior to stock Fender. When it comes to necks, Fenders are mass produced, assembly line instruments...the majority of their necks are not typically quarter sawn and only very select models come with tapered necks and such. Then of course there are pickups...sorry but there's A LOT of people who really don't care for the sound of Fender pickups, otherwise you wouldn't have brands such as Duncan, DiMazio and MANY others....such things are purely based on individual taste. I would also point out that Fender does occasionally out-source many of their parts as well...standard tuners on MIM's and American Standards for example are made by Schaller and not Fender.

I would also point out that your comment regarding cost is subjective at best depending exclusively on what you are comparing it too. Yes, if you're trying to replicate an MIM Standard from parts you got on Ebay, chances are you're gonna pay about the same as you would for a fully assembled instrument. That said however, I suspect that the majority of us who build partscasters don't try to "replicate an assembly line instrument". I won't speak for everyone, but personally I build Strats so that I have a personal unique instrument that's built to my personal specifications...withOUT dumping a ton of bread at the custom shop!

The FACT here is that there are a great many "partscasters" out there that are made from parts other than Fender...and there's nothing wrong with that AT ALL.

Quote:
So, in summary, the best neck for a Fender Strat is made by Fender.


WRONG. Like the choice of pickups or even a Strat vs. a Les Paul, such a comment is subjective at best. There ARE companies that make truely outstanding guitar necks (I've played some VERY nice Warmoths), equal to or surpassing that of Fender.

Quote:
With such vast choice of guitars available I tend to feel if you want a Strat then get one made by Fender


So your opinion is that if someone wants a Strat, they should exclusively be limited to "off the rack"...simply based on your own appreciation of the brand? Isn't that rather naive, if not presumptuous to think everyone should have the same taste as yourself? Doesn't that completely over-look all the options that are available to people interested in Strats?

In my not so terribly humble opinion, one of the things that make Strats so great are the number of options, both stock and aftermarket, that are available. As a musician, I value my individuality and my own uniqueness....and I believe my guitars (Strat or otherwise) should reflect that. As a guitar player, I'd rather be identified as having my own sound and style...I have no desire to play and sound like every other weekend wanker that picks up a guitar and I think my guitars should be as individual and unique as I am.

Quote:
You don't decide you want a Ferrari but opt to build one from parts because you think it will be better with a Dodge Ram engine.


Considering the fact that people do custom car builds all the time, maybe you should try comparing apples to apples here. After all, I've seen Chevy 454's crammed in to VW's and I once saw a Chrysler Hemi shoe-horned into a Dodge Caravan. If you're going to use an automotive analogy, perhaps you should compare Fender's to Chevy's or Fords....assembly line, mass produced vehicles much the way that Fender Strats are (regardless of the country of origin).

BTW...you do realize that Fiat has an 85% stake in Ferrari, right?

Quote:
Fender have been making Strats for a few years now...I think they are best qualified to decide what's right on a Fender Strat.


To me this is like saying that the record labels are "best qualified to decide" what type of music I should be listening too...and wow...isn't that how we end up with complete crap like Brittney Spears? LOL!!!!!!!!!!

There are just soooooooooooooo many ways I could debate this point, from Fender's history as a company, it's origins and it's founder (who later went off to form G&L), to the fact that other companies have been making guitars and guitar parts for nearly as long (in some cases longer...while they've never produced many "Strats", Gibson has been around a lot longer than Fender has). Ultimately your logic here insinuates a mentality of d-evolution - that we should all be listening to vinyl (or even wax rolls) instead of CD's and MP3's. As musicians, no one should be recording on a computer because boy...that's not how they did it 50 years ago! Why do we need flat screen TV's when 19" tube sets were once all the rage...and gee, why do we even need "talkies"...weren't silent movies good enough? Why should any of us need to drive a car, Ford or Ferrari...wasn't a horse and buggy just fine (especially considering the cost of gas in recent years)? And wow...what's with this whole electricity thing...didn't guitars have six strings long before Leo Fender came around? Does such mentality not over-look the number of times that Strats have been changed, upgraded, down graded and the various models including special runs available just from Fender? And if there wasn't any room for improvement as your comment there suggests, why did Leo Fender himself start G&L guitars...where did the Legacy, Tribute, Rampage and Comanche's come from? Seems like Leo himself felt there was still some room for improvement :-)

Dude...just because such and such company has been doing something for a long period of time, does NOT mean that's the best or only way to do it and it certainly doesn't suggest that it's right for everyone.

Quote:
Wrong... It is a very, very nice looking guitar but it isn't a Strat. It is a Strat shaped guitar but a Strat has to be made by Fender.


Wow...talk about some serious cliche potential here....

Let's see here...common sense should dictate that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, there's a pretty good chance that it's NOT a Rottweiler!

If it smells like dog crap......

"The naming of Strats is a serious matter...it isn't just one of your holiday games..." (anyone read T.S. Elliot?)

Really...would a given guitar sound any different if it said Montague on the headstock instead of Fender? "What’s Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot, Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part Belonging to a man"

Whether you understand this or not (and whether you can admit it or not), because of it's iconic nature the term "Strat" has become a generic description of a style of instrument. Feel free to read up on this, but in a nutshell, the "Strat shape" has basically been declared public domain...with the essential word there being "Strat". Your only argument here seems to be regarding the singular use of that word. Again here you seem to be arguing that semantics are somehow more important than the instruments themselves when it really should be the other way around.


Like many of my fellow Fenderians I'm sure, I have a few partscasters in among my "genuine" Fender (and/or Squier) Stratocasters, and yes...I certainly do call them "Strats". If someone asks me about one of them, I do tell them it's a partscaster (often in pain-staking detail as to what parts came from where), if for no other reason than because I'm quite proud of my guitar building skills and the instruments I've produced and/or modified. That said...and I suspect this is the singular, if not most relevant point that has been missed...when I'm on stage (or even in the studio for that matter), 99.9% of the people in the audience honestly wouldn't know the difference between a Fender Strat, a Squier Strat, a $100 knock-off or a custom build. Some may recognize the shape as "a Strat" but the only thing most of those folks really know is whether or not I played well....whether or not they liked the music. Even when working with other musicians, most folks simply pay attention to how well I play and how good my sound is...whether or not I'm playing a Fender (or Squier) made Strat is completely irrelevant.

Finally, consider this; if you were to take 20 similar "Strat style" guitars, a mix of Fenders, Squiers, knock-offs and partscasters and you were to scrape off headstock stickers so that you didn't know which guitar was which...wouldn't you simply choose the instrument that played and sounded the best? Be honest...


Seriously dude...a rose by any other name..........


_______________________________


Now, to address the OP...

First and foremost, I do strongly encourage you (or anyone) to build their own instrument...either from parts or even from scratch. Aside from creating an instrument that's specific and unique and built to your own personal specifications....and at a fraction of what Custom Shop would cost, it also gives you a unique understanding and insight into guitars. I guess some folks are happy with "off the rack" and I know a great many people never do anything with their instruments other than play them and change strings occasionally (and some don't even do that much). Personally I believe that having an intimate knowledge and understanding of how your instrument works gives you the ability to get the most out of it...building your own helps gives you this knowledge.

Likewise, building your own (as already discussed) presents the individual with more options than you can get with stock instruments. A simple fact here is that no two people, let along guitar players, have the exact same identical taste and preferences. We're all individuals....what may seem "perfect" to me may be completely useless to someone else. Some folks for example may be perfectly content with an average American Standard neck while others prefer something with more taper or even a more vintage feel....some folks like maple fretboards, some like rosewood and others still like ebony. Personally I prefer my mid-90's Mexican necks (w/maple) along with my mid-80's Kramer (tapered with rosewood).

Now as far as the 3'rd party vendors go, this has been my own personal experience...please take it as such. Personally I think some of these companies do better in certain areas than others do...Fender generally does have a good degree of quality control across the board regarding their bodies, necks and pieces parts, however because you're paying for "a name" the prices do tend to be a bit higher. For bodies and necks, I would actually suggest starting with Warmoth. I have played some decent Mighty Mite necks and they do tend to be the least expensive, but it's been my experience that their quality control isn't quite as tight as Warmoth's....you could get something truly exceptional, but you may not.

Regarding hardware, this becomes a bit more complex...

For bridges, I do whole heartedly recommend Callaham. As I mentioned in my rant up there, I really don't know what these folks do so differently, but they are worth the money. I have a couple of GFS blocks on a couple of my Strats and they're decent enough, but the Callaham block I put on my '96 was nearly as significant as the pickups...HUGE different in tone and sustain.

For tuners, I would recommend Schallers...after market or otherwise. I personally don't care for locking tuners myself...a properly setup Strat shouldn't need them...but either way you really can't go wrong with Schallers. I've had Grovers and Pings go bad on me but I have yet to loose a Schaller.

Stuff like pots, string T's, jack plates, etc., you're probably fine with Allparts. For all intensive purposes, Allparts as a company tends to buy branded stuff wholesale and repackages said parts under their own name. CTS pots for example are CTS pots regardless of what bubble wrapping they may have on the shelf :-) Likewise, you also may wish to take a look at Guitar Fetish for some of that stuff as well...I've used stuff like their jack plates and string T's, I have a couple of their trem blocks on a couple of my Strats and I even have one of their gold trems currently on my '99 Fat Standard...very decent quality and the prices are really exceptional!

Pickups are, in my opinion, very subjective and VERY much based on the players personal taste as well as the style of music you play. I'm a Duncan man myself and EMG's are a close toss-up. Personally I find DiMazio's to be a bit harsh (at least for the majority of classic rock, blues and oldies that I play) and most often I find stock Fender pickups to be a bit thin. That said as I've mentioned in other places on this forum, I also tend to feel that it depends greatly on the guitar you're putting them in as well...I have a set of older Fender VN's that were less than stellar in my '96 MIM but sound great in my '85 MIJ...the '96 got a set of Duncans :-)


Which ever way you choose to go, read, educate yourself and shop around...KNOW what you want then look for the best price....then have fun building your new axe!


As usual, just my own personal opinions.


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Post subject: Re: Thinking about building my own...
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 11:38 am
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Drew365 wrote:

I think I'm best qualified to decide what I want in my hands when I play ...


I have no doubt... and equally applaud anyone who knows exactly what they want. I'm the same, to a large extent, but started with a "legitimate" Strat and swapped in other legitimate Strat parts so it remains a Strat. Because I want a Strat, because I appreciate their history and because, for years, it was something I aspired to own.

Ok, so I have swapped parts off my MiM Strat but, to a degree, I don't really even class that as a "real" Strat which gives me the freedom to do what I want with it. I wouldn't do the same with my American because it is what it is.

My business is in design development and, as a result I fully agree, I am extremely touchy about intellectual property. I really don't have an issue with people assembling guitars from parts but it doesn't make the finished item a Fender Stratocaster. I would further argue that the term "Strat" infers it is a Fender Stratocaster and, unless it is, it is still wrong to call it such, as there isn't that separation.

Fender has a brand association through 60 Years of manufacture. Anyone who uses the Stratocaster shape is jumping on the band wagon and piggybacking off Fender's success. If you make good necks, bodies or guitars that's great - but make them to your design don't just rip off someone else's intellectual property. To a large extent it even devalues the creditability of the alternative manufacturer. If you are good enough to make a good neck well "Nail your colours to the mast" and declare (through your own design of headstock for example) that this neck is specific to you... don't pretend to be something else.

However, few manufacturers manufacture every component in house. If you are a legitimate supplier of parts to Fender, or are licensed by Fender to produce parts (in effect on their behalf) then it is one and the same thing.

I know, I am strange and complicated. :roll: I'll get off my soup box now. Like I said, "I'm very touchy about intellectual property".

If you want to build a Strat shaped guitar from bits go ahead, but ask yourself why you want a Strat shaped guitar in the first place.

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After all this time I should be better.


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Post subject: Re: Thinking about building my own...
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 11:54 am
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Hey, I am a HUGE Fender fan... don't get me wrong! But the bottom line is: Fendersimply doesn't sell a Strat off the rack that can compare to my Partscaster!

If you research the components I have in my Warmoth; you will verify that I could have easily bought a Fender American Standard or possibly a Deluxe for the same money. Check pricing from Warmoth on the neck and body alone with no hardware, pups or electronics. My Partscaster is made to be comparable to a Fender Custom Shop that would cost thousands in terms of quality. No rack produced Fender is going to compare (not that one is made with my specs anyway!)

Also, Warmoth is a Fender-licensed manufacturer of bodies, heads and necks all made in USA and their quality is top-notch! So I think I can definitely call it a Strat if I want. But I am happy to call it a Partscaster... an all premium Partscaster!

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my gear:

Jackson USA Phil Collen PC-1
Warmoth Custom-Build Stratocaster (The Andersong)
Fender American Special Stratocaster
Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster
Fender Mustang GT40
Eleven HeadRush w/ two Alto TS212 FRFRs


Last edited by Tiger J on Tue Jan 13, 2015 8:58 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Thinking about building my own...
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 12:16 pm
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jimmy_james wrote:
Hey nice strat Tiger J.
I would like to compare yours to one of these
http://www.goodguysmusichawaii.com/new- ... aple-flame
But they are rare and as you mentioned expensive!


Thanks Jimmy! Here are my specs:

BODY:
WARMOTH SWAMP ASH BODY
CONTOURED HEEL
ROUTED FOR SINGLE BATTERY BOX
TOP ROUTED
WILKINSON TREM BRIDGE ROUTING
SCHALLER STRAPLOCKS (GOLD)
WILKINSON VS401 TREM (GOLD)
EBONY VOL/TONE KNOBS
ANACONDA PICKGUARD (HSS)

NECK:
WARMOTH INDIAN ROSEWOOD NECK WITH EBONY FRETBOARD
22 SS6115 FRETS
GRAPHTECH BLACK NUT
GOTOH 510 SERIES H.A.P.M. TUNERS (GOLD/BLACK BUTTONS)
COMPOUND 10-16" RADIUS
STANDARD THIN NECK CONTOUR

ELECTRONICS:
PLANET WAVES GOLD PLATED STEREO JACK
DIMARZIO MO' JOE BRIDGE HUMBUCKER
DIMARZIO "THE CHOPPER" MIDDLE PICKUP
DIMARZIO FAST TRACK 1 NECK PICKUP
5-WAY LEVER SWITCH
CTS 500K OHM POTS (1 VOL/ 1 TONE)

_________________
Tiger J

my gear:

Jackson USA Phil Collen PC-1
Warmoth Custom-Build Stratocaster (The Andersong)
Fender American Special Stratocaster
Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster
Fender Mustang GT40
Eleven HeadRush w/ two Alto TS212 FRFRs


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Post subject: Re: Thinking about building my own...
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 12:26 pm
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Hi Lomitus,

I appreciate your comments, and the time you spent in compiling them and perhaps (to some extent) we are saying the same thing from different corners.

At the end of the day a Fender Stratocaster has to be made by Fender - no argument there I trust.

Other guitars are available, made by other manufacturers, and other guitars/components have their merits.

To suggest that a Fender Stratocaster is the absolute best guitar ever made, just because it says Fender Stratocaster on the headstock, is a ridiculous assumption and obviously wrong.

Any manufactured product is subject to compromise - it might be economic, market driven, manufacturing tolerance constraints, longevity of the product, even legal aspects. As a consumer you can choose to change that compromise. Going back to the automotive side I chose to make my car more uncomfortable, less practical and reduce its engine life in a quest for speed. The original manufacturer didn't have that choice because it has to appeal to a wider customer base.

Fender, through 60 years of doing it, know how to make the best Stratocaster(s) to appeal to the widest audience - it's how they stay in business. If, as a consumer and an individual, you want to change the balance of compromise on how that instrument was arrived at, that is obviously up to you. You can, of course, create an instrument to your personal taste and you might get it right. You might also get it wrong, but the only way you will know ultimately is by doing it.

So, that gets over the whole it is good/better/best. Something else is better, not as good etc. In some respects the whole "It's a great guitar" is irrelevant as soon as we start considering the brand, brand association and what it means.

Why is Aston Martin the best brand in the World? They aren't necessarily the best cars but they have a rock solid branding. The same with Porsche (with whom I have some association). Porsche pursue protection of their branding with Germanic efficiency to the point of absolute control.

The Fender Stratocaster has a similar brand association. To some extent you are buying the name (whether you will admit it or not). There are other guitars out there, which may or may not play better than a Stratocaster but you choose to hang a Stratocaster shaped guitar around your neck because, to some extent, you want to be allied to that association.

My argument is, if you want that association then you have to pay your dues.

If the fact that it is a Stratocaster shape is irrelevant then why did you buy/build a Stratocaster shaped guitar in the first place?

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Post subject: Re: Thinking about building my own...
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 12:57 pm
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This thread is a little ridiculous insofar as people's opinions are varied, though all valid.

But I don't see any room for argument here.

One Man's opinion here on home-builds:

Using components that aren't made by Fender or available through them causes a few people to build their own using all aftermarket or a combination of Fender/Aftermarket parts. Nothing wrong with that - it's your guitar, your money and you're the one playing it.

Some people take pride in producing something themselves or enjoy working with wood or electronics similar to those who enjoy cooking, woodworking, photography etc. If making their own guitar floats their boat, sobeit.

Remember, numerous guitar makers today started out making a one-off that was so good that others urged them to produce more, some on a large scale. Do we have a budding Paul R. Smith, Vince Guidroz, Stephen McSwain, David McNaught (or many others) in our midst, pushing the envelope in a way that a multi-national like Fender cannot??

With enough skill, time and dedication, it certainly isn't impossible to out-Fender Fender especially in terms of a one-off or small batch.

If you like them... GREAT ! Go for it !!

If not, that's OK too. Just stick to buying guitars produced and sold by Fender.

So, exactly where is the argument again...??

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Thinking about building my own...
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 1:11 pm
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Remember... Leo Fender out-Fendered Fender himself!

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my gear:

Jackson USA Phil Collen PC-1
Warmoth Custom-Build Stratocaster (The Andersong)
Fender American Special Stratocaster
Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster
Fender Mustang GT40
Eleven HeadRush w/ two Alto TS212 FRFRs


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Post subject: Re: Thinking about building my own...
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 4:18 pm
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Yikes! I wasn't expecting this to turn into an argument.
Anywho...I want to build this for two reasons:
1. For the challenge, education, and pride of accomplishment of a DIY.
2. To have a unique instrument that is mine, not one off the rack. (Custom Shop not included).

If Fender made a guitar with exactly the same materials, finish, etc as I want, I might buy it. But I would lose out on #1. I won't call it a "Fender", but it will be a Strat clone, like so many other Strat-Like Objects out there. What its called is trivial to me.

All I was looking for was people's experiences with the various vendors. DarkPenguin, Drew365, Tiger J thanks for your experience with Warmoth; that's the kind of thing I like to know. They seem to have a good reputation online, and I like the options they offer.
Tiger J, that is one gorgeous axe!
Lomitus, I'll check out Callaham. Thanks!

Like I said, I'm still in the research phase, learning about my options for woods, pickups, coatings, bridges; getting ideas of prices. Part of that is checking out suppliers, which includes customer reviews.


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Post subject: Re: Thinking about building my own...
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 6:48 pm
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Not an argument, just a discussion of interested parties.

If you want to build a guitar from parts you go for it. You will certainly learn a great deal and are right to get as much background information as you can, as there is a level of risk involved. You won't know if you have built the guitar of your dreams or an expensive heap of unplayable parts until you add the final part. Equally, the sum of the parts may be worth nothing at the end.

It is for that reason I suggest, for your first project, get a complete lesser guitar (A proper Strat ;-) ) and swap out the bits you are unhappy with. You then get to appreciate the merit of each change in isolation. If ultimately you end up with a complete guitar of new parts and all of the original in a box in the corner you can reassemble all the bits and sell the guitar...or sell the bits.

I would find it difficult to consider there wouldn't be an off the shelf guitar which would be close to your requirements in only needing to change a few components rather than having to reinvent the wheel.

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Post subject: Re: Thinking about building my own...
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2015 3:12 am
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I found building my own partscaster as time consuming as it is satisfying.

Really love the Strat I put together and can recommend USACG as a neck manufacturer. The piece I got from them honestly made me a better guitar player.

Also I love Bill Lawrence's flexible Microcoil pups. His family company is releasing a version of these which are supposed to have a really vintage sounding profile to them.

Other recommendations I have is getting a really nice tremolo block. There are companies who make them in different materials depending on what you're looking for. Mine is made of brass and has a really deep sound to it and it looks lovely.

I also recommend the solid switches from German company Eyb, and pots from Dirk at Singlecoil.

One last thing about wires. Some say it doesn't matter, but I used silver ones. They sound good to my ears.

Good luck with building your dream.

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Post subject: Re: Thinking about building my own...
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2015 8:24 am
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John Sims wrote:

I would find it difficult to consider there wouldn't be an off the shelf guitar which would be close to your requirements in only needing to change a few components rather than having to reinvent the wheel.


To start with, Stainless Steel frets. Fender won't install them
Hard tail, few and far between.
Ebony fb, few and far between.
Compound radius neck, they are becoming a little more common, but still a bit rare.
If you put all of these features together, I doubt you'll come up with a Fender branded model. Yet these features are high on my list of wants. I currently have two Fender guitars, and I get by just fine with them. But I don't always order vanilla ice cream.

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Post subject: Re: Thinking about building my own...
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2015 9:03 am
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Drew,

I would love to see pics and specs for your Warmoth Daphne Blue!

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my gear:

Jackson USA Phil Collen PC-1
Warmoth Custom-Build Stratocaster (The Andersong)
Fender American Special Stratocaster
Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster
Fender Mustang GT40
Eleven HeadRush w/ two Alto TS212 FRFRs


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Post subject: Re: Thinking about building my own...
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2015 9:48 am
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I am of the same opinion as a few previous posters here. If it isn't all Fender parts, the value isn't what it could be.

I had purchased a BlackTop strat with a really strait neck on it, but I wanted a compound radius, and the pickups sucked. I changed the PUPs for a DiMarzio ToneZone and a Duncan JB in the neck, and changed all of the pots to CTS. Then ordered a Fender USA Compound Radius Neck. After that I decided I wanted a different body on it, so I ordered a USA Sienna Burst Ash body. At this point, I had a Standard with a Deluxe neck but my own electronics setup. All in at this point was 1100.00 with shipping for the neck and body, another 290.00 for the PUPs, Electronics, tuners (Fender Deluxe Locking), Fender LSR roller nut, and Fender Deluxe 2 point Trem. It's more than what I would've paid for a production guitar, but, I got exactly what I wanted, and the pleasure of building something myself.

So, the Blacktop Neck and Body sat for a few weeks until I decided to do something with it. I then purchased a Duncan JB trembucker, Fender Custom shop 50's neck and middle single coil, Fender Locking Tuners, CTS electronics, Fender Deluxe 2 point Trem, and a Fender LSR roller nut. This guitar turned out PHENOMENAL and sounds HUGE.

I also had quite a bit of enjoyment assembling my own guitars to the specs I wanted. The hardest part was filling the holes from the vintage trem on the Blacktop and re-drilling for the 2 point trem. A drill press is an absolute MUST for this to be correct. Measure 15 times, drill once.

US HH Strat
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Mexican HSS Strat
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Post subject: Re: Thinking about building my own...
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2015 11:10 am
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Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2011 6:10 pm
Posts: 2261
Location: Elay
Tiger J wrote:
Drew,

I would love to see pics and specs for your Warmoth Daphne Blue!

Picture of my guitars, no need to ask twice! :)
That's the Warmouth on the left, and it's inspiration, my Clapton CS on the right. Basically I liked a lot about the Clapton, but wanted to do one more my way. That's Warmouth's version of Daphne Blue. It's a bit more turquoise than the Clapton, but I like it and it gets a lot of nice comments.
Specs: Birdseye maple neck, satin finish, compound radius neck, stainless steel medium jumbo frets, compensated nut, locking tuners, string through hard tail body, strap locks, 9v battery box just in case, Fat 50's pickups, custom controls with one volume, one tone and the 5 way moved over between them. I think that's about it.
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_________________
'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue


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